Oracle Academy joins EdTech conference roundtable in Western Balkans on artificial intelligence in education and the digital welfare of students

As an introduction to the international online conference “Digital Education 2023” organized by the Center for Educational Technologies of the Western Balkans, a roundtable on artificial intelligence in education was held at the Palace of Serbia in Belgrade.

The goal of this gathering that brought together educators, researchers, implementers, and decision-makers was to explore ways in which artificial intelligence (AI), used responsibly and ethically, can improve education and help students achieve better results.

During the roundtable, the latest practices in the educational field were presented as well as the latest researchers’ results, and participants shared their experiences and best practices.

After an introductory discussion, there were two panels organized:

• Panel discussion 1: “New reality in education – artificial intelligence and education”
• Panel discussion 2: "Students' well-being in the digital environment"

Key topics during the roundtable were:

• How artificial intelligence is transforming education, including the use of AI in personalized learning, student assessment, and support for students;
• Potential benefits and risks of using AI in education and how to ensure it is used responsibly and ethically;
• The impact of artificial intelligence on students' digital well-being, including issues of privacy, supervision, and the effects of AI on mental health;
• Strategies for educators and decision-makers to promote the responsible use of AI in education and ensure the digital well-being of students.

Following the main discussion, the participants had the opportunity to take part in three separate workshops dedicated to AI and its impact on education policies, student well-being, and equality in education.

In the workshop related to the potential solutions for the development of policies on AI in education in Republic of Serbia, some of the key findings were:

• Improvement of literacy in working with AI;
• Development of new educational profiles;
• Improvement of legal regulations;
• Education of educators;
• Infrastructure strengthening;
• Development of human resources;
• Increase of funding for education;
• Adoption of educational programs to modern needs;

During the workshop on Artificial intelligence and student well-being participants worked on resolving specific challenges related to the well-being of the students, as stress reduction, anxiety management, time management, and social isolation. The focus was on the positive aspects of digital media, because it is important to emphasize and encourage positive opportunities and benefits. 

The key outcomes were presented in the form of advice for educators to:

• Actively participate with students;
• Establish clear rules and guidelines;
• Limit time spent in front of screens;
• Take into account the recommendations for the youngest students;
• Encourage healthy sleep habits;
• Encourage physical activities;
• Develop social skills;
• Get educated about online safety.

The conclusion is that it is necessary to continue organizing forums and trainings, but also to use social media more for educational purposes. Technology should enhance the quality of our lives, not reduce or hinder it. It is therefore important that we use digital media and digital technologies properly to maximize their benefits.

Participants in the third workshop, on How artificial intelligence can support equality in education, discussed the following areas of AI implementation:

• Personalized learning;
• Monitoring individual student progress;
• Eliminating bias;
• Digital skills development;
• Accessibility in education.

Challenges that they foresaw included unequal access to technology, bias in algorithms, technology addiction, loss of privacy and data protection, and more.

In order to achieve equality in education with the help of artificial intelligence, it is necessary to undertake appropriate policies and measures.

Some recommendations are:

• Ensure access to technology for all students;
• Diversify data sets;
• Regularly bias test AI systems;
• Involve people in the educational process;
• Increase awareness of data protection;
• Provide support for teacher training;
• Maintain dialog with students, parents, and the wider community.

Further discussion on these topics continued at the international online conference "Digital Education 2023". Conclusions and recommendations from this meeting were briefly presented at the conference to educators, policy makers, researchers, and others.

Find the full report from the roundtable here: http://edtech.center/sr/izvestaj-sa-okruglog-stola-vestacka-inteligencija-i-dobrobit-ucenika-studenata-izazovi-i-prilike-za-donosioce-odluka/

Find more details about the Digital Education 2023 conference, as well as the recording of it, on the EdTech Center’s website: http://edtech.center/en/conference-digital-education/